Top Award for Betty Finalyson

Martinborough’s Betty Finlayson was one of the five recipients of the New Zealand Federation of Womens Institute’s highest award – the Gold Honours Award. With her ardent support and loyalty to the organization Betty was a most worthy recipient of a Gold Honours Award.

The awards were presented by the Institute’s Patron Her Excellency Janine Lady Mateparae at the 93rd Annual General Meeting/Conference held at Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre.

The National President, Jeanette Andrews extended a warm welcome to the over five hundred women attending from all parts of New Zealand. The banners of the various institutes were displayed from the Centre’s balcony.

Representing the Mayor of Wellington, Councillor Nicola Young officially welcomed members, friends and families to the city.

Her Excellency Janine Lady Mateparae officially opened the conference. In her speech she said the Federation had a well chosen theme ‘technology’ appropriate as we live in an age of he technological change.

In her speech the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Hon. Jo Goodhew M.P., encouraged the organization to a future with the community to hold up the aspirations of Womens Institutes.